Jailed Irani activist wins Nobel Peace Prize

KARACHI: In the past year, Iran has come under severe scrutiny especially when it comes to human rights. Mahsa Aimini's death brought to light several injustices that take place in the country especially where women are concerned. However, despite the threat women face at the hands of the state, there is one woman who refused to back down. Narges Mohammadi, despite being sentenced to 12 years in prison, has won the Nobel Peace Prize 2023.

As per the awarding body, the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Mohammadi was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Price, “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.” Berit Reiss-Andersen, the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, spoke highly of the activist and brought to light all the struggles she endured for a greater cause, “Her brave struggle has come with tremendous personal costs. Altogether, the regime has arrested her 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes.”

Narges Mohammadi is one of Iran’s leading human rights activists, who has actively campaigned for women’s rights and against the death penalty and is also serving as the deputy head of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, a non-governmental organization led by Shirin Ebadi, the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Mohammadi, the second Iranian woman to win the award, is serving up to 12 years in prison for multiple charges against her including spreading propaganda against the state. She was recently arrested for the recent nationwide protests over the death of 21-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after she she was detained by the country’s morality police.

Her family took to social media to celebrate the news and called it a “historic and profound moment for Iran’s fight for freedom.” However, they also expressed regret that she could not share this “extraordinary moment.”